Man accused in Titusville triple shooting faces judge

1 dead, 2 hurt in shooting over ongoing dispute

William Woodward faced a judge Tuesday after officers in Titusville arrested him Monday morning and said he shot three of his neighbors, killing one of them.

An ongoing dispute that officials say started over a missing roll of duct tape exploded into gunfire at 1950 Smith Drive in Titusville, where three people were shot outside the home, according to Titusville Police Department detectives.

In court Tuesday, a judge temporarily appointed a public defender, but said Woodward's veteran's benefits are enough to require him to hire his own lawyer. He is being held without bail.

Woodward, 43, is an Iraq War veteran. A veterans' advocate said Woodward suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and snapped.

"He kept asking for help. For the community to help, for the police to help, for everyone to help him," said veteran's advocate George Taylor. "He knew he had a breaking point and he was trying his best not to hit that point."

The shooting, according to investigators, is a deadly result of neighbors who do not get along.

"These people had been harassing him for over a month," neighbor Larry Mauldin said. "He just finally snapped."

Woodward allegedly accused his neighbor of stealing a roll of duct tape. That accusation led to several spats over an extended period of time.

Gary Lee Hembree, 39, was shot multiple times in his yard and died, deputies said.

Hembree's mother said Woodward wouldn't leave her son alone and constantly threatened the victims.

"He just wouldn't leave him alone," said Jeannie Huppert. "He shot Gary in the head and then went back and shot him in his neck, but he was already dead."

Roger Picior, 44, and Bruce Blake, 49, were also shot multiple times. Picior is in serious condition and Blake is expected to survive his injuries.

Maudlin said Woodward took the shooting victims to court recently, but that didn't solve the problem.

"The three guys harass everybody in our whole neighborhood. In my opinion they got what they deserved," Maudlin said.

One neighbor told WESH 2 that the victims even threatened to rape Woodward's daughter.